Refrigerated display cabinet



March 25,- 1947. w N 2,418,062

REFRIGERATED DISPLAY CABINET DEI Patented Mar. 25, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

This invention relates to a display cabinet intended for the use of fiorists requiring attractive storage space for flowers and plants offered for sale. Accordingly, the cabinet is provided with suitable refrigeration and its side walls are composed princip-ally of transparent material.

One object of the invention is to provide a new and improved refrigerated display cabinet.

Another object of the invention is to provide a display cabinet having a rotatable support upon which articles to be displayed are carried so as to produce an attractive and varying appearance as the support rotates.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a display cabinet having transparent walls on all sides and arranged with a rotatable support for merchandise within the cabinet, together with means for rotating the support either by power or manually. V

More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide a display cabinet having transparent walls with a rotatable support enclosed therein and with cooling means mounted in the upper portion of the cabinet in position to cause a continuous circulation of cool air within the cabinet and over the support.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerated display cabinet embodying this invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical axial sectional view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken substantially as indicated at line 33 on Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken as indicated at line 44 on Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the upper end of the pillar showing the tubes and Wires extending from its interior.

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view of the drive mechanism for the rotatable support.

Fig. '7 is a diagrammatic view including a wiring diagram for the lighting system and for the driving motor.

While there is shown in the drawings and described in detail herein certain structure embodying this invention, it is to be understood that the same is not limited to the specific form or application disclosed, and that it is the intention to cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling within the scope of the invention as expressed in the claims.

The display cabinet which is illustrated herein has been designed particularly for use in florists shops for preserving and displaying flowers and plants, but it will be evident that the same structure may have other uses, as, for example, in the display of meats or other foods which are preferably kept at relatively low temperatures. As shown, the cabinet is of hexagonal form, since this makes an attractive display item which may be set up in the middle of the floor area of a shop where it can be seen from all directions; and to further increase the efficiency of the cabinet as a display device the merchandise is supported therein on a rotatable carrier so that all the flowers or other articles are eventually brought into view at each side of the cabinet.

The structure includes a base or floor I with upright frame members 2 between which there are secured transparent panels 3 which are preferably composed of triple Thermopane glass which is manufactured in such panels with three panes of glass spaced apart from each other to form heat insulating air spaces, the edges of the panes being sealed to permanently enclose the air or having the air partially exhausted from the spaces to improve the insulating quality. This is a manufactured product which is no part of the invention but which is preferably employed to improve the efliciency of the cabinet as a refrigerator or cooler. The transparent panels and their intervening stiles or frame members are surmounted by an ornamental cap 4 which may be of any desired design and which includes a top wall 5 completing the enclosure. The floor I is provided with a circular track 6 for the wheels or rollers 'I which support the rotatable platform 8 just above the floor I and preferably below the level of the lower edges of the transparent panes or panels 3. The platform 8 is circular and its periphery is provided with gear teeth 9 which mesh with the teeth of a drive pinion It] on a shaft II which serves to rotate the platform 8 continuously 0r intermittently, as may be preferred.

Rising from the center of the platform 8 is a hollow tubular pillar I2 which is fixed to the platform for rotation with it. The upper end of the pillar I2 is seated in a bearing collar I3 which is centrally supported by brace members It extending to the corners of the cabinet structure where they may be anchored to the cap 4 by any suitable means, such as the members I5 shown in Fig. 3. Intermediate the platform 8 and the bearing I3 the pillar I2 carries a display shelf I6 preferably of glass and supported by suitable brace members H, as seen in Fig. 2. Thus,.when the platform 8 is rotated the shelf It turns with it, and the entire display of merchandise on the platform and in the shelf is caused to travel past the window panels 3, creating an interesting and constantly varied appearance, and affording opportunity for the effective presentation of a considerable quantity of merchandise.

For effectively cooling the interior of the cabinet, Figs. 2 and 3 show banks of cooling coils I8 arranged in two groups in the space Within the cap 4 above the radial brace members M. These coils may be supported in any suitable manner and will be supplied with refrigerant through feed tubes it which extend downwardly through the hollow pillar l2 and through the floor I of the cabinet for connection with a suitable compressor and other refrigerating apparatus which may be located at any convenient position in the store or in the building of which it is a part. Preferably, to dispose of moisture condensed on the coils iii a drip pan 2!) is arranged under each of them and is formed with surfaces sloping toward the axis of the pillar i2 and connected to a drain pipe 2| which extends downwardly through the hollow pillar E2 to any suitable point of discharge.

With the cooling coils [8 located in the upper portion of the cabinet it will be evident that the cooled air will tend to fiow downwardly from the coils adjacent the central portion of the cabinet.

Notwithstanding the insulating character of the panels 3, seine heat will be transmitted through them and the warmest air will be that adjacent the panels; consequently, the air will tend to rise in the vicinity of the outer walls of the cabinet,

flowing toward the cooling coils i8 and then falling away from them as it is chilled by their refrigerating action. Accordingly, there will be a constant circulation of air tending to maintain a reasonably uniform temperature within the space occupied by the flowers or other merchandise on display. Some assistance to this circulation may be afforded by providing fan blades 22 secured to the upper portion of the pillar l2 just below the bearing l3 so that these blades will rotate slowly .within the cabinet as the platform 3 and shelf It turn therein.

To enhance the attractiveness of the display the cabinet will be illuminated preferably by tubular fluorescent lighting units indicated at 23 adjacent the upper edges of the window panels 3, and whatever heat is radiated fro-m these units will tend to accelerate the circulation of air. The heated air around the lighting units 23 will rise into the upper portion of the cabinet and will be chilled by contact with the cooling coils it before it flows downwardly over the contents of the cabinet. Feed wires 2 for these lights are led out of the cabinet through a conduit 25 extending vertically in the hollow pillar l2.

As already noted, the platform 8 is provided with peripheral gear teeth 9 meshing with a drive pinion It on a shaft H. As shown in Fig. 6, the shaft l i also carries a bevel gear 26 meshing with a bevel pinion 2? on the shaft of an electric motor 28 so that as the motor runs the shaft H and the pinion iii will be rotated and will turn the platform 8. One panel of the cabinet is preferably hinged at 2.! to serve as a door 39 and, as indicated in the wiring diagram in Fig. 7, the door carries a switch device 3| which is in circuit with the motor 28 so that immediately upon opening the door the motor circuit is opened and the rotation of the platform 8 and display shelf [6 will cease. If it is then desired to rotate the platform to a different position for bringing certain merchandise opposite the door this may be accomplished by means of a hand crank 32 journaled in the frame adjacent the door 39. The crank is carried on the end of a shaft 33 which is provided with a bevel gear 34 at its inner end adapted to mesh with a bevel gear 35 on the upper end of the shaft H. The shaft 33 is slidable in its bearing 36 to a limited extent sufficient for shifting the gear 34 out of mesh with the gear 35 and this is normally accomplished by means of a spring 3? disposed within the housing 36 which encloses the gears 35 and 35. When it is desired to actuate the platform 8 by means of the crank 39 it is only necessary to thrust the shaft 33 inwardly far enough to mesh the gears 34 and 35 and then to rotate the crank 30 until the platform has been turned to the desired position.

The wiring diagram presented in Fig. 7 indicates the lead wires for the current supply at 49 and 4!. Fig. 1 shows switch buttons at 42 and 43 mounted on the frame adjacent the door 38, and from the wiring diagram it will be evident that the switch 32 will open or close the circuit for the motor 28 to stop r start the turntable as desired while the door 30 is left closed, and that the switch it controls the lights 23 independently of the door til. I

t will be understood that if desired, the Deriphery of the rotatable platform may be made as a belt wheel instead of having the gear teeth 9, and a belt may be employed to connect the motor for driving the platform. It may be found preferable in some cases to fit a pulley to the upper portion of the pillar l2 and to extend a drive belt therefrom to a motor located either in the upper part of the cabinet or in the lower portion, accordin to convenience. considered as falling within the scope of this invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a display cabinet having transparent side walls, a support in the lower portion of the cabinet mounted for rotation about a vertical axis, a hollow axially disposed pillar rotatable withsaid support, extending upwardly therefrom in the cabinet and open at its upper and lower ends, a bearing for said pillar adjacent its upper end with arms extending from the cabinet structure bracing said bearing in position, refrigerating coils disposed in the upper portion of the cabinet with refrigerant circulating tubes entering said pillar at its lower end and emerging from the upper end thereof for connection with said coils, and drip pan means under said coils in out-of-contact relation to said pillar.

2. In a display cabinet having transparent side walls, a turn-table in the lower portion of the cabinet mounted for rotation about a vertical axis therein, a hollow axially disposed pillar rotatable with said turntable, extending upwardly therefrom and open at its upper and lower ends, refrigerating coils fixedly disposed in the upper portion of the cabinet, fixed drip pan means under said coils and out of contact with said pillar with a drain pipe leading downwardly therefrom thro h the pillar, and out of contact therewith.

3. In a display cabinet having transparent side walls with closed top and bottom walls, a support mounted for rotation about a vertical axis therein, a hollow axially disposed pillar rotatable with said support, extending upwardly therefrom in the cabinet and open at its upper and lower ends;

electric lighting units located in the upper portion of the cabinet adjacent the side walls, refrigerating' coils located in the upper portion of the cabinet inwardly from the sidewalls with a space These modifications are.

between said coils at the middle portion of the cabinet establishing a circulation of air downwardly within the middle portion of the cabinet, feed wires for said lighting units extendin through said hollow pillar and refrigerant circulating tubes entering the pillar at its lower end and emerging from the upper end thereof for connection with said coils.

4. In a display cabinet having transparent side walls with closed top and bottom walls, electric lighting units located in the upper portion of the cabinet adjacent the side walls, refrigerating coils located in the upper portion of the cabinet inwardly from the side walls, drip pans under said coils, said pans being spaced apart adjacent the middle of the cabinet permitting the circulation of air therein, said air being heated by the lighting means and cooled by the refrigerating coils whereby it is caused to flow downward between said drip pans in the middle portion of the cabinet and then upward adjacent the side walls.

5. In a display cabinet having transparent side walls, a support mounted for rotation about a vertical axis therein, a hollow axially disposed pillar rotatable with said support, extending upwardly therefrom in the cabinet and open at its upper and lower ends, refrigerating coils disposed in the upper portion of the cabinet with refrigerant circulating tubes therefor extending through said hollow pillar, and a fan having blades extending substantially horizontally from the pillar and secured thereto near its upper end below the position of the coils in the cabinet for assisting the circulation of air therein as the pillar rotates. V

6. In a display cabinet having transparent side walls, a support mounted for rotation about a vertical axis therein, a hollow, axially disposed pillar rotatable with said support, extending upwardly therefrom in the cabinet and open at its upper and lower ends, refrigerating coils disposed in the 5 upper portion of the cabinet with the refrigerant circulating tubes therefor extending through said hollow pillar, and a fan having blades disposed around the pillar near its upper end and below the position of the coils and rotatable about the 10 axis of the pillar for assisting the circulation of air in the cabinet.

7. In a display cabinet having transparent side walls, a support mounted fOr rotation about a vertical axis therein, refrigerating coils disposed in the upper portion of the cabinet inwardly from the side walls, means forming a space below said coils at the middle portion of the cabinet for establishing a circulation of the air downwardly therein, and a fan axially disposed within the cabinet for rotation in a horizontal plane: in the upper portion of said cabinet and below the position of the coils for assisting the circulation of air in the cabinet.

- WILLIAM ABRAHAMSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

